Old Mines: Arsenopyrite & Azurite Rockhounding in Josephine County, Oregon
- Minerals reported
- 9
- Elevation
- 720 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
Old Mines is a mapped rockhounding spot in Josephine County, Oregon. Reported finds include arsenopyrite, azurite, calcite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Permission required before collecting
- County
- Josephine County
- State
- Oregon
- Nearest road
- Galice Road
- Coordinates
- 42.56926, -123.59528
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
Land & collecting status
Permission required before collecting
Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Best time to visit Old Mines
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 54°F in winter to 88°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SEXTON SUMMIT station (12 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Old Mines
This spot sits on surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits, mapped as mixed fluvial sediment that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.
- Mapped unit
- surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits
- Age
- 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
- Rock types
- mixed fluvial sediment
- Elevation
- 720 ft
Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Old Mines.
Get the appSources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
State guidance last verified:
- BLM Oregon/Washington, Rockhounding & mineral material
- Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, beach collecting rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Old Mines
Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Old Mines.
- Cow Creek Gold Panning & Rockhounding AreaDouglas County, Oregon · 18 mi awayGold, Agate, Jasper
- Illinois RiverJosephine County, Oregon · 23 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Josephinite
- Agness BarCurry County, Oregon · 24 mi awayQuartz, Chalcedony, Agate
- Island Creek Day Use AreaDouglas County, Oregon · 24 mi awayGold
- Nickel Mountain Mine - RiddleDouglas County, Oregon · 27 mi awayGarnierite, Chrysoprase
- Cedar Springs Mt.Douglas County, Oregon · 27 mi awayAzurite, Chalcolite
- Althouse CreekJosephine County, Oregon · 32 mi awayAgate, Garnet, Gold Nugget
- Streams around Oregon CavesJosephine County, Oregon · 33 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Gold
Across the state line from Old Mines
Old Mines is close enough to the Oregon border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Shelly Creek & Monkey Creek MinesDel Norte County, California · 43 mi awayGold, Arsenopyrite
- Keystone MineDel Norte County, California · 44 mi awayCopper Nugget
- Diamond CreekDel Norte County, California · 46 mi awayNative Copper
- Happy Camp Jade MinesSiskiyou County, California · 48 mi awayJade, Gold, Serpentine
- Smith River GravelsDel Norte County, California · 54 mi awayDiamond
- Hungry CreekSiskiyou County, California · 59 mi awayCassiterite, Copper
Old Mines FAQ
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More rockhounding in Oregon
See all 181 Oregon spots →
Open Old Mines on the map
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